Priorslee Lake: 4:43am - 9:01am
Map
Telford sunrise: 5:10am
11.5°C throughout. Mainly cloudy with some clearer spells. Fresh NW wind. Very good visibility.
(56th visit of the year)
Notes
- the two fly-over Mute Swans were about a mile away and did not trouble the residents.
- a pair of Tufted Ducks barely touched down at 6:45am: and then presumed same pair flew in at 7:45am and stayed.
- a single juvenile Coot being fed. Rather a conundrum as the juvenile seemed to be at least a week old but not old-enough to be from the brood last seen 12 days ago (the 4th) even though it was in a similar area of the lake.
- every day I see one or more small groups of Feral Pigeons over the lake – these do not seem to be Racing Pigeons, as such, as these pass in much larger groups, generally much later in the day and usually well after I leave. So where are they from and where are they going?
- small passage of Swallows early: then 1 again on the mast of yacht in the Sailing Club compound. Otherwise just singles / small numbers of Swifts and hirundines after 8:00am.
- again only the 1 Willow Warbler heard singing this morning – and again at the 2nd location. A silent bird was seen foraging low down close to the original location: perhaps they are too busy feeding young to sing?
- are there really 19 singing Blackcaps? There are certainly more than my logs show for previous years.
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese (1 group)
- 12 Canada Geese (6 groups)
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 8 Feral Pigeons (4 groups)
- 140 Jackdaws
- 101 Rooks
Count of hirundines etc
- 12 Swifts
- 4 Sand Martins
- 13 Swallows
- 2 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 6 Chiffchaffs
- 1 Willow Warbler
- 19 Blackcaps
- 3 Common Whitethroats
- 6 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (1) Tufted Ducks – see notes
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 30 + 1 (1 brood) Coots
This interesting insect was spotted this morning. It seems to be the longhorn beetle Rhamnusium bicolor. The elytra (forewings) look rather more flimsy than on many species of beetle. The Collins Insects guide indicates it is common on deciduous trees and often in towns. Cannot recall seeing it before.
Map
Telford sunrise: 5:10am
11.5°C throughout. Mainly cloudy with some clearer spells. Fresh NW wind. Very good visibility.
(56th visit of the year)
Notes
- the two fly-over Mute Swans were about a mile away and did not trouble the residents.
- a pair of Tufted Ducks barely touched down at 6:45am: and then presumed same pair flew in at 7:45am and stayed.
- a single juvenile Coot being fed. Rather a conundrum as the juvenile seemed to be at least a week old but not old-enough to be from the brood last seen 12 days ago (the 4th) even though it was in a similar area of the lake.
- every day I see one or more small groups of Feral Pigeons over the lake – these do not seem to be Racing Pigeons, as such, as these pass in much larger groups, generally much later in the day and usually well after I leave. So where are they from and where are they going?
- small passage of Swallows early: then 1 again on the mast of yacht in the Sailing Club compound. Otherwise just singles / small numbers of Swifts and hirundines after 8:00am.
- again only the 1 Willow Warbler heard singing this morning – and again at the 2nd location. A silent bird was seen foraging low down close to the original location: perhaps they are too busy feeding young to sing?
- are there really 19 singing Blackcaps? There are certainly more than my logs show for previous years.
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese (1 group)
- 12 Canada Geese (6 groups)
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 8 Feral Pigeons (4 groups)
- 140 Jackdaws
- 101 Rooks
Count of hirundines etc
- 12 Swifts
- 4 Sand Martins
- 13 Swallows
- 2 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 6 Chiffchaffs
- 1 Willow Warbler
- 19 Blackcaps
- 3 Common Whitethroats
- 6 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (1) Tufted Ducks – see notes
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 30 + 1 (1 brood) Coots
Another view with my big fingers for scale!
(Ed Wilson)
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(Richard Camp)